Hat Trick Hero: Nylander Leads Leafs Past Flames in Calgary

For at least one game, the Toronto Maple Leafs showed they could win without Mitch Marner in the lineup.

With Marner missing his first game of the 2024-25 season due to a lower-body injury, William Nylander stepped up in spectacular fashion, recording his second career NHL hat trick to power the Leafs to a 6-3 victory over the Calgary Flames on Tuesday night at the Scotiabank Saddledome.

Nylander sealed the hat trick in the final minute, burying an empty-net goal, much to the delight of Leafs fans in attendance who showered the ice with hats. Coincidentally, his only other NHL hat trick came exactly eight years earlier, in a 6-5 win over the Boston Bruins.

Now with nine goals in his last eight games and 33 goals on the season, Nylander continues to be one of the NHL’s most consistent offensive threats. He currently sits second in the league in goals, trailing only Leon Draisaitl (37) of the Edmonton Oilers.

Matthews’ Milestone Night & Leafs’ Road Success

In his 600th career NHL game, Auston Matthews quietly delivered a standout performance with three assists, helping the Leafs secure their ninth win in their last 11 games in Calgary.

Toronto is now 2-0 to start their four-game road trip, with the next stop coming Thursday in Seattle against the Kraken.

Meanwhile, Joseph Woll had a solid night in goal, making 23 saves to earn his 19th win of the season.

Scoring Summary

The Leafs’ offense exploded in the second period, scoring four goals to turn a 1-1 game into a 4-2 advantage heading into the third.

1st Period:

• Calgary (1-0) – Flames capitalized on a 5-on-3 power play at 14:16.
• Toronto (1-1) – Nylander (PPG, 2:36 2nd Period) started the Leafs’ offensive surge.

2nd Period:

• Toronto (2-1) – John Tavares (PPG, 3:17) made it two goals in 41 seconds, beating Dustin Wolf on a backhand shot.
• Calgary (2-2) – Yegor Sharangovich tied it up, but it didn’t last long.
• Toronto (3-2) – Bobby McMann (12:28) scored the game’s first even-strength goal, notching his 16th goal of the season—one more than his career-high from last season.
• Toronto (4-2) – Nylander (15:55) kept the puck on a 2-on-1 and fired a low shot past Wolf.

3rd Period:

• Toronto (5-2) – Matthew Knies (20th goal, 4:10) gave the Leafs a cushion early in the final frame.

• Calgary (5-3) – Joel Farabee (4:28) answered just 18 seconds later.
• Toronto (6-3) – Nylander (EN, 19:02) capped off his hat trick.

Disallowed Goals & Berube’s Successful Challenge

Both teams had goals overturned in the first period:

• John Tavares thought he opened the scoring at 6:30, but after review, it was ruled that he knocked the puck in with a high stick.
• Calgary’s Joel Farabee also had a goal waved off at 8:09. Craig Berube challenged for goalie interference, arguing that Jonathan Huberdeau interfered with Joseph Woll. After review, the officials agreed with Berube, keeping the game tied 0-0 at the time.

Leafs Nearing Top Spot in the Atlantic

With two games in hand on the Florida Panthers, the Leafs trail by just one point for first place in the Atlantic Division. A win against Seattle on Thursday could vault Toronto into the top spot.

Leafs Nation will need to brace for another late-night start, as the puck drops at 10:00 PM ET.

Can the Leafs keep rolling on this road trip?

Go Leafs Go!